Kidnapped Twice: Ozo Okeke Claims Kinsmen Targeted Him for Opposing Land Sale

Ozo Ozoemena Okeke, the Vice Chairman of Obunagu Achalla village in the Enugu Agidi community, has made grave allegations against some of his kinsmen, claiming they are plotting his death. Okeke, who has served as a key figure in his community, states that the motive behind these threats stems from his refusal to sell community land, which some members of the village intend to sell to the highest bidder.

Speaking with journalists at his residence in Obunagu Achalla on Sunday, Okeke detailed the harrowing events that led to his kidnapping on two separate occasions in 2023 and 2024. According to Okeke, it was divine intervention that spared his life both times, in addition to the ransom payments made to the kidnappers.

Okeke revealed that the plot was orchestrated by four individuals within his community, working secretly with a group of kidnappers. They allegedly targeted him because he stood as a barrier to their plan to sell parts of the community’s land while leaving the village in poverty. “They wanted to eliminate me for being a hindrance to their plans,” Okeke said, accusing the conspirators of using the kidnappers as a tool to intimidate him.

The first kidnapping incident occurred on October 17, 2023, shortly after the road in front of Okeke’s house was being graded. Some individuals believed that Okeke had sold land to a third party, but he strongly denied the accusation. When kidnapped, Okeke was taken to a hideout by the kidnappers, who, upon finding only a small sum in his bank account, released him after realizing the alleged land sale was a mere rumor.

The second incident occurred in August 2024, after a peace meeting with his community. Okeke was abducted again, this time taken into the bush towards Urum in the Awka North district and later moved toward a shrine in Ukwulu. He was held captive for three days before being freed. Despite these traumatic events, Okeke insists it is only his faith and the payment of ransoms that saved him each time.

In response to Okeke’s allegations, Emeka Ementa, Chairman of Obunagu-Achalla in the Enugwu Agidi community, firmly denied any connection to the kidnappings. Ementa stressed that he had no dealings with kidnappers and found Okeke’s claims to be fabrications. “I have never heard of this kidnapping incident. It seems like a drama, a forgery,” Ementa remarked, defending the community’s decision to suspend Okeke for his role in undermining the unity of the village. The suspension was linked to Okeke’s involvement with the Ezinano Awka community in a contentious peace agreement concerning a disputed piece of land.

On the issue of the disputed land, Ementa explained the historical context behind the conflict, which involves the Agu-Nawgu land—a site historically shared by several communities, including Enugwu Agidi and Awka. This land has been the subject of legal disputes, with the court having ruled in favor of Enugwu Agidi in three separate rulings. Ementa called for government intervention to resolve the ongoing tensions over the land, which he claims has caused significant hardship for his community.

As the conflict over land rights continues, the alleged attacks on Okeke have added a personal and dangerous dimension to an already volatile situation in the region.